Sept. 5, 2018—Today, the President put the lives of 800,000 young people in the U.S. at risk, including nearly 200,000 here in California. The decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is counter to our values and historic success as a nation of immigrants, and we at The California Wellness Foundation denounce the decision and stand alongside those who defend the well-being of immigrant communities.
“With President Trump’s decision today, the dreams of some of America’s best and brightest begin to unravel,” said Judy Belk, president and CEO of Cal Wellness. “Now is the time to take action to advance and defend the extraordinary contributions of young people who have benefitted from DACA. We must rally our collective resources in philanthropy, business and government to create a new path for these young people, who are a vital part of our communities and our country.”
As a health foundation, Cal Wellness cares deeply about immigration issues because we know that legal status for immigrants allows access to health care, education and jobs – all critical to the health and wellness of individuals and communities.
Extraordinary Contributions Made through DACA
Over the past five years, more than 200,000 young people in California alone have pursued the legal channels available to them through the DACA program, an executive action taken by President Obama, to engage and contribute to California’s success. A recent national survey of DACA recipients have yielded some important results:
- 97% of survey respondents are currently employed or enrolled in school.
- At least 72% of the top 25 Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, General Motors, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, and Home Depot, employ DACA recipients.
Other research has estimated that DACA beneficiaries would contribute $460.3 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product over the next decade, if the program were to continue.
In addition, the public has increasingly become supportive of DACA and the young people it protects. In recent polling 78% of registered voters believed DACA recipients should be allowed to stay in the U.S. either as citizens or legal residents.
Ways to Take Action
If you have DACA status and need to know what to do next, see this infographic.
If you want to take action to protect immigrant lives, raise your voice on social media with the hashtags #DefendDACA, #HereToStay and #AdvanceAndDefend or engage with these organizations on the front lines: